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American captain rescued, pirates killed, U.S. official says

Arch Enemy

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American captain rescued, pirates killed, U.S. official says - CNN.com

snip:
(CNN) -- The captain of the Maersk Alabama was freed Sunday after being held captive since Wednesday by pirates off the coast of Somalia, a senior U.S. official with knowledge of the situation told CNN.

The official said Capt. Richard Phillips is uninjured and in good condition, and that three of the four pirates were killed. The fourth pirate is in custody. Phillips was taken aboard the USS Bainbridge, a nearby naval warship.

Earlier Sunday afternoon Maersk Line Limited, owner of the Maersk Alabama, said the U.S. Navy informed the company that it had sighted Phillips in a lifeboat where pirates are holding him.

Phillips was spotted another time earlier in the day, the Navy said.
 
Thank ****ng God.

Glad this ordeal ended as it should have. No mercy for the Pirates. The 4th Pirate will be a nice way to get some information from, etc. etc.
 
:applaud Kudos to the US Navy.
 
A fine Easter indeed for the family of Capt. Phillips.... As for the pirates, not so lucky....
 
One is still alive, but he will go on trial, and will be made an example of. :)

As for the Captain that was rescued, he deserves a medal. He IS a sailor of the finest American tradition.
 
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That's certainly good news!! :applaud
 
This is great news, don´t know the details of the unit involved in the rescue, but I can feel a HOO RAH coming on
 
Great news, but sucks for the anti-Obama crowd ... :)
 
Looks like negotiations worked,he jumped in the ocean and the Seal team negotiated with the pirates before they could shoot him.

Are our armed forces great or what...:shoot
 
Outstanding news! Looks like the U.S. and the French are done messing around with these thugs.
 
The official said Capt. Richard Phillips is uninjured and in good condition, and that three of the four pirates were killed.

OORAH! Well done. :usflag2::2dancing:


Great news, but sucks for the anti-Obama crowd ... :)

Assuming Obama actually made the call, rather than the Joint Chiefs, I'm perfectly happy to celebrate an AMERICAN victory regardless of who said "Do it."

G.
 
OORAH! Well done. :usflag2::2dancing:




Assuming Obama actually made the call, rather than the Joint Chiefs, I'm perfectly happy to celebrate an AMERICAN victory regardless of who said "Do it."

G.

Yep. Sometimes the team is bigger than a D or an R.
 
I am wondering if all the "Obama can't make a decision" crowd who criticized him over "taking too long to do something" are going to actually give Obama the credit for this rescue....I mean since they were so quick to blame him for not ordering a rescue.
 
I am wondering if all the "Obama can't make a decision" crowd who criticized him over "taking too long to do something" are going to actually give Obama the credit for this rescue....I mean since they were so quick to blame him for not ordering a rescue.

It depends on his involvement and the circumstances of the rescue. It seems to me like this was a "spur of the moment" kind of thing but we'll have to wait for the story to develop.
 
Worked well all around....

1) America did not give in to the ransom.

2) U.S. ships did not allow other pirates to approach the scene for support.

3) The Navy was ready for any opportunity and the Captain was freed.

4) Pirates were killed.

5) And the Pirate brood was thoroughly embarrased internationally.


The next time a pirate seeks out a ship, he will be very careful to acknowledge the flag. The lesson here is that it is too much of a hastle to mess with an Americn ship. This is exactly how you deter future problems. Now, to enforce the lesson, the Navy should go on a two week hunting spress and sink anything that looks like a pirate vessel. And for good measure, we should bomb some locations in there ports.
 
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I am wondering if all the "Obama can't make a decision" crowd who criticized him over "taking too long to do something" are going to actually give Obama the credit for this rescue....I mean since they were so quick to blame him for not ordering a rescue.

If he did order it, then he deserves praise.

If, as has been his wont in such matters, he said nothing, then he deserves damnation.

When I know what he said, then I will know whether to praise him or to damn him.
 
Honestly, I couldn't give a rat's ass who issued or ordered the command to rescue this man.
The point is that his family are going to be able to celebrate Easter, if they wish to, without the nagging-pain that their loved one is on a raft with an AK-47 to the temple.
 
Worked well all around....

1) America did not give in to the ransom.

2) U.S. ships did not allow other pirates to approach the scene for support.

3) The Navy was ready for any opportunity and the Captain was freed.

4) Pirates were killed.

5) And the Pirate brood was thoroughly embarrased internationally.


The next time a pirate seeks out a ship, he will be very careful to acknowledge the flag. The lesson here is that it is too much of a hastle to mess with an Americn ship.
I hope you are correct.

If not, I hope the Navy and the Marines are preparing for the next taking, so that the next captain held hostage will have his captivity measured in hours rather than days.

Still, a salute and high praise to the Navy. Hostage rescued, 3 pirates dead, the other in captivity....a good day's work.
 
I'll be damned, I was wrong. Kudos to the Navy folks that saved our man. Now go blow up the damned pirates eh?
 
I am wondering if all the "Obama can't make a decision" crowd who criticized him over "taking too long to do something" are going to actually give Obama the credit for this rescue....I mean since they were so quick to blame him for not ordering a rescue.

If he ordered this, then I was wrong and I'm impressed. If the action was taken without his approval, then well, that says it all right there. We'll let the details emerge before passing ANY judgment, for or against. To do otherwise would be silly.
 
If he did order it, then he deserves praise.

If, as has been his wont in such matters, he said nothing, then he deserves damnation.

When I know what he said, then I will know whether to praise him or to damn him.

If? Are you seriously saying that US military can do military actions without the approval of the Commander in Chief?
 
I hope you are correct.

If not, I hope the Navy and the Marines are preparing for the next taking, so that the next captain held hostage will have his captivity measured in hours rather than days.

Still, a salute and high praise to the Navy. Hostage rescued, 3 pirates dead, the other in captivity....a good day's work.

Could this have possibly be a stint to draw out the attention people paid to the situation. To start a legitimate hunt for Pirates and it not be a "unnecessary" endevaor. It seems the people got more into immediate action as it was prolonged.

Could the delay have been strategy on the anti-piracy league?
 
Great news, but sucks for the anti-Obama crowd ... :)

Don't be silly. On a day like this and with a development like this we are all united.
 
If? Are you seriously saying that US military can do military actions without the approval of the Commander in Chief?

........Yes. Often, the Commander in Chief gets word after the conflict.
 
I think we sent a message to all somali pirates. And that message is "You can mess with the spineless and expect a ransom of millions but if you mess with the USA expect to be killed"

The crew of the Alabama and the US Navy deserve to be commended for taking a stand against lawless pirates.
__________________
 
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